A Red alert on thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning has been issued for 14 districts, the Department of Meteorology said today.
Accordingly, thundershowers accompanied by lightning are likely to occur at several places in Northern, North-Central, Eastern and Uva provinces and in Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts. Sudden gale could sweep through during thundershowers.
Therefore, the general public are cautioned to take necessary precautions to safeguard themselves against the squall and lightning, the Department said.
Accordingly, the 14 districts which are are named as follows: Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar, Vavuniya, Anuradhapura, Trincomalee, Polonnaruwa, Batticaloa, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Ampara and Monaragala, they said.
The Meteorology Department cautioned people not to seek shelter under trees but to stay indoors.
Also the dept. requests people to avoid loitering in open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations, playgrounds and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
Avoid using wired telephones and disconnect electric appliances during thunderstorms and avoid travelling in open vehicles, such as bicycles, trailers hauled by tractors, boats etc.
